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Shinzo Abe poses inside the cockpit of a T-4 training jet. The photograph sparked uproar in South Korea and China as the number 731 reminded many of the infamous Japanese bio-warfare Unit 731, which carried out experiments on live prisoners and unleashed a plague on Chinese civilians. Photograph: Reuters Letter from Tokyo

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe’s revisionist rhetoric alarms regional neighbours

Capuchin monkey ‘Mally” sits on the head of an employee in an animal shelter in Munich, Germany. Photograph: Matthias Schrader/AP Photo Justin Bieber’s Mally becomes German state property

French minister for higher education and research, Geneviève Fioraso presented the draft law including the proposal two months ago. Photograph: Jean-Sebastien Evrard/AFP/Getty Images French to debate whether to teach university courses in English

British foreign secretary William Hague has warned of a “regional catastrophe” if the conflict is not brought to an end and he has continued to call for an amendment of the EU arms embargo. Photograph: Dan Chung/Reuters Most Syrians reject extremist groups, says leader of new militia

Relatives carry the coffin of an Iraqi police officer killed by militants in Najaf on Monday. Photograph: Ahmad Mousa/Reuters Bombings in Iraq kill at least 12 people

More than 200 die in past week as Sunnia-Shia tensions threaten a bloodletting

Fighters from Islamist Syrian rebel group Jabhat al-Nusra on the front line during a clash with Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. Photograph: Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters Files (SYRIA - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS Rebel leader in hiding after disputed merger

Syrian group Jabhat al-Nusra being subsumed by Islamic State in Iraq and Levant

A huge tornado approaching the town of Moore, Oklahoma on Monday. Photograph: Richard Rowe/Reuters Severity of weather events bear out warnings of climatologists
  • US
  • Frank McDonald
  • May 22, 2013, 02:00

A vehicle wrapped around a tree in a neighbourhood that was in the direct path of the tornado. Photograph: Nick Oxford/The New York Times Only certainty for area known as Tornado Alley is that more twisters are on way

Gen Franco who triggered the three-year civil war by leading a military coup against the democratically elected Republican government. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images Spain’s Partido Popular blocks motion to denounce Franco

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Frances Fitzgerald. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill Fitzgerald plans preschool inspections

Minister for Children says early-education training system to be reviewed

Downed utility poles block the road as a family walks south on Sante Fe Avenue in Moore, Oklahoma. Photograph: Brett Deering/Getty Images Oklahoma begins recovery in tornado aftermath
  • US
  • May 22, 2013, 01:00

The people of Moore are starting the long task of clearing up the mess and rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of the tornado

British legislation bars abortions after the 24th week of pregnancy Suicidal woman allowed to get abortion

Judge says it had to be established that the woman lacked mental capacity

David Cameron: he emailed party members and acknowledged differences of opinion. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters Cameron moves to pacify Conservative grassroot members
  • UK
  • May 21, 2013, 23:51

Efforts to smooth relations follows ‘mad swivel-eyed loons’ comment

The rubble of a destroyed neighbourhood in Moore, Oklahoma yesterday. Photograph: Brennan Linsley/AP Photo Desperate search continues for survivors of Oklahoma tornado
  • US
  • May 21, 2013, 23:46

Officials estimate that 24 people were killed, including nine children

Israeli soldiers of the Golani brigade take part in an exercise near the border with Syria at the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Photograph: Uriel Sinai/Getty Images Damascus claims it destroyed Israeli military vehicle on joint border

In response guided missile fired and Syrian military outpost destroyed, says Israel

European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said the EU has built up a “toolbox” for tackling tax avoidance and fraud and “now we have to use it.” MEPs urge EU to tackle tax havens and avoidance

EU loses €1 trillion in tax revenue a year

The British government’s controversial plans to legalise gay marriage cleared the House of Commons tonight despite efforts by Tory backbenchers to derail the legislation. UK MPs vote to back gay marriage
  • UK
  • May 21, 2013, 20:09

Legislation will now go to House of Lords where it is expected to attract fierce opposition

Notre Dame cathedral in Paris Far-right activist kills himself in Notre Dame cathedral in Paris

78-year-old shoots himself in front of altar

Our Correspondents

Lara Marlowe Lara Marlowe - Paris Correspondent

Vigilante’ editor seeks out corruption and abuse in French political and financial life

Maureen Dowd Maureen Dowd -

Under-fire Obama should drop the wistful, petulant approach

Simon Carswell Simon Carswell - Washington Correspondent

All that jazz: grave of F Scott Fitzgerald recalls the life less ordinary

Patrick Smyth Patrick Smyth - Foreign Policy Editor

Political abuse of charity status rife in US

Latest

Downed utility poles block the road as a family walks south on Sante Fe Avenue in Moore, Oklahoma. Photograph: Brett Deering/Getty Images Oklahoma begins recovery in tornado aftermath
British legislation bars abortions after the 24th week of pregnancy Suicidal woman allowed to get abortion
Capuchin monkey ‘Mally” sits on the head of an employee in an animal shelter in Munich, Germany. Photograph: Matthias Schrader/AP Photo Justin Bieber’s Mally becomes German state property
French minister for higher education and research, Geneviève Fioraso presented the draft law including the proposal two months ago. Photograph: Jean-Sebastien Evrard/AFP/Getty Images French to debate whether to teach university courses in English

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